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The Daily News will host the 2015 Women & Business Seminar and panel discussion Thursday, Feb. 26, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Brooks Museum auditorium, 1934 Poplar Ave. The seminar will be followed by a wine-and-cheese reception with the panelists. Tickets are $25. Visit seminars.memphisdailynews.com.

Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary’s School will host an opening reception for “Horn Island: Paint & Metal,” new works by Richard Prillaman and Bill Nelson, Friday, Feb. 20, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Buckman, 60 Perkins Road Extended. The exhibition is on display through April 7 in the Levy Gallery. Visit buckmanartscenter.com.

“The same technology that has shortened the way we communicate – 140 characters – has opened up other ways of visually communicating,” said Elesha Newberry, associate director of education at the Brooks Museum of Art. “In the past five years, the number of photography entries has risen greatly.

The mortgage market in Shelby County ended 2014 in a slighter better position than where it stood in 2013.

Banks and mortgage lenders made 8,471 purchase mortgages in Shelby County during 2014, up 2 percent from the 8,301 mortgages during 2013, according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports,www.chandlerreports.com.

Five years after the Great Recession rocked the nation and nearly destroyed auto manufacturing in Tennessee, the Midstate’s industry is booming again.

Nissan’s growth is no small part of that, largely because of the company’s confidence in the state of Tennessee and Gov. Bill Haslam, according to José Muñoz, executive vice president of Nissan Motor Co. and chairman of Nissan North America, which is headquartered in Franklin.

Looking at results from last month might suggest mortgage industry professionals are in the midst of a yearend slowdown, with phones not ringing quite as much as a result of interested buyers at the moment.

The third quarter was a pretty quiet period for mortgage brokers, based on activity during the period and a comparison to what was happening at this time last year.

Banks and mortgage lenders made 2,513 purchase mortgages in Shelby County during the third quarter, statistically flat compared to the 2,522 mortgages during the third quarter of 2013, according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports, chandlerreports.com.

In banking, growth and expansion don’t have to mean scouting other cities and markets for ideal spots on which to set up new brick-and-mortar locations.

Such locations, in fact, are particularly costly propositions at a time when customers are visiting the drive-thrus and bank tellers at such locations increasingly less as mobile options proliferate. But just because a bank’s physical location doesn’t expand outside of its core market, it doesn’t mean the bank’s deal flow is confined to the same area.

Kathee Villar, a loan officer with Community Mortgage Corp., has worked for the lender for 23 years, and when you’re in that kind of place for that length of time, certain patterns start to repeat themselves.

Shelby County mortgage lenders share a few common trends at the moment, as the area’s mortgage market begins to shake off the wintry chill of the first quarter.

Many of them report robust purchase mortgage activity, as refinances plummet to small fractions of their business. As a result of the demand, many of those lenders also have been adding mortgage officers to their ranks and plan to continue doing so.

The mobile race is on among Memphis financial institutions, with banks rolling out apps that allow banking on the go and a full range of capabilities that translate the brick-and-mortar banking experience to small digital screens.

Banks may tout with increasing frequency their facility with the array of digital tools available today, but there is a downside to that trend as financial institutions race to catch up with their more mobile-oriented customers.

American Housing Month, recognized each June, is an opportunity for individuals to better understand the process of buying a home and the benefits that come along with home ownership.

But what if you’re already a proud homeowner, and you’re looking to undertake a major reinvestment in your property? Just like when buying a home, it’s important to research before committing to any large purchase. There are a few routes available for financing a home maintenance or renovation project, and the biggest differences are interest rates and collateralization.

Magna Bank has made three customer-facing hires, including the addition of a new vice president.

Jodi Scruggs, who has more than 12 years of banking experience, has been tapped as vice president and private banking officer, and as such, she’ll work to build relationships with new and existing Magna clients, among other things.

Magna Bank has made three customer-facing hires, including the addition of a new vice president.

Jodi Scruggs, who has more than 12 years of banking experience, has been tapped as vice president and private banking officer, and as such, she’ll work to build relationships with new and existing Magna clients, among other things.

Shelby County’s mortgage market started off 2014 a bit tame, not as chilly as the weather but not exactly bursting with energy either.

Local banks and mortgage lenders made 1,617 purchase mortgages during the first quarter, flat compared with the 1,624 mortgages during first quarter 2013, according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

The latest monthly totals for Shelby County’s mortgage market show homebuying improved somewhat last month, with total mortgage volume up 12 percent compared to February 2013, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports,www.chandlerreports.com.

Shelby County’s mortgage market entered 2014 in less of a turbo-charged fashion than it did at the same point last year.

New figures show total mortgage volume in the county was down 5 percent in January compared to January 2013, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com. Data for this report did not include refinances.

The mortgage market in Shelby County ended 2013 with a modest improvement over 2012, with signs pointing to more advances in 2014.

Banks and mortgage lenders made 8,298 purchase mortgages in Shelby County during 2013, a 3 percent improvement from the 8,027 mortgages during 2012, according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

Borrowers are still rushing to lock in low rates, take advantage of a seemingly improving economy and get those keys to a new home in their hands.

That’s what the latest monthly mortgage numbers would suggest, as do the mortgage industry professionals who say borrowers kept the phones ringing at pretty much a steady clip in November compared to the previous month and helped November see a 10 percent uptick in the county’s mortgage volume.

As the year is drawing to a close and the weather is cooling down, the local mortgage market keeps heating up. Continuing a trend that’s held somewhat steady, the market for mortgages in Shelby County continues to improve over the past year.

The gas tank of Shelby County’s mortgage market continues to be powered by the fuel of low interest rates and more of a willingness from lenders to make new loans.

Banks and mortgage lenders made 2,521 purchase mortgages in Shelby County during the third quarter, a 7 percent improvement from the 2,364 mortgages during the third quarter of 2012, according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports,www.chandlerreports.com.

Bank of Bartlett’s mortgage company saw an uptick in mortgage volume in August compared to the same month in 2012, and the bank’s vice president said he expects demand from borrowers to persist and home prices to keep trending higher.

A Germantown High School graduate and the son of parents in the medical field, Kasser entered The University of Memphis as a walk-on safety for the Tigers football team. The advisers he worked with guided him toward his chosen field of accounting, and by his sophomore year he’d garnered an athletic scholarship.

The same principle applies in the digital age of banking. Hacking and cyber theft are on the rise, and banks and their websites, mobile sites and smartphone apps increasingly are targeted by crooks because, well, that’s where the data is.

The month of July may help buoy expectations among optimistic participants in the mortgage industry that a housing recovery is taking hold in Shelby County.

Mortgage volume for the month was up almost 22 percent in July, climbing to almost $173 million last month from $142.2 million in July 2012, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

James Ady has joined Ballet Memphis as ballet master. In his new role, Ady will teach morning technique classes, assist with community outreach programs, and rehearse and coach dancers for upcoming performances.

June was a healthy month for the mortgage market in Shelby County. Last month saw 810 purchase mortgages made, an 8 percent improvement from 750 mortgages in June 2012, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

The mortgage market is starting to get interesting, in a manner of speaking. Earlier this month, interest rates for mortgages rose in what was described as the largest one-day jump in at least 10 years, according to Mortgage News Daily. That in large part stemmed from the Federal Reserve, which has been snatching up $85 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities a month.

As the economy starts to rebound, local lenders like Magna Bank, First Tennessee Bank and Renasant Bank are seeing moderate improvement in activity for new commercial and residential construction projects, and competition is intensifying to land deals.

Kristen Briglia has joined archer-malmo as web/broadcast turbo artist. In her new role, Briglia will produce web graphics, HTML and video-editing services for the growing digital and broadcast departments, and will also help on print projects as needed.

Andy Wright has joined Memphis-based Magna Bank as senior vice president and manager of commercial banking. Wright, who previously held senior vice president positions at Iberiabank and First Tennessee Bank, has experience working with a variety of industries, with in-depth expertise in the transportation and logistics industries.

Someone let out a cheer earlier this month at the Memphis Area Association of Realtors 2013 Residential Real Estate Summit as MAAR President Regina Hubbard gave her optimistic forecast for the local housing market.

Magna Bank has added investment services to its mix of offerings available for customers.

The bank now is working with Cary Allen, a representative of independent investment securities firm LPL Financial Services. Allen will be based in Magna’s Quail Hollow branch at 6525 Quail Hollow Road, but he’ll be available to meet with customers at any of Magna’s other branches if they need.

George Chism Sr. is a newly appointed mortgage loan specialist at BankTennessee.

Chism, who has been with the bank since February 2012, had been a commercial loan officer. During his tenure in the banking industry, Chism has worked at Magna Bank, Wells Fargo and Germantown Home Mortgage.

George Chism Sr. is a newly appointed mortgage loan specialist at BankTennessee.

Chism, who has been with the bank since February 2012, had been a commercial loan officer. During his tenure in the banking industry, Chism has worked at Magna Bank, Wells Fargo and Germantown Home Mortgage.

Mortgage activity in Shelby County began 2013 by shifting into a higher gear, but someone tapped the brakes in February.

Total mortgage volume countywide had started the year showing double-digit percentage growth over the same period one year earlier. But in February, volume was up just 1 percent over the same month in 2012.

Melanie A. Keller has been named president of Meritan Inc. Keller, who joined the nonprofit social services agency in 2006, previously served as its executive vice president. In her new role, she is responsible for oversight of more than 500 employees and contractors as well as the agency’s $21 million annual budget. Keller also manages its quality improvement and strategic planning efforts.

Susan Stephenson is one of the most accomplished and highly visible women in the Memphis business community. She is the co-founder of Independent Bank, the city’s second-largest bank as ranked by assets and one that largely steered clear of the mortgage mess that dogged competitors during the financial bust.

It started with a letter. More than two dozen of them, actually. Bankers from around Memphis got a missive from Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. in 2010 that solicited help from bankers like Joe DiNicolantonio, West Tennessee area president for Regions Bank.